SEM field trip to The Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate.

As part of efforts to raise awareness about rural farming and animal husbandry, SEM with the support of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), arranged a field trip on July 16th, 2026, to this year’s Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate for a group of elderly Pakistani men and young people from the Jamia Masjid Ghausia (JMG) in Sheffield.

The Great Yorkshire Show is one of the biggest attractions in the country, and this was the 167th attracting thousands of people showcasing all kind of breeds of livestock and with other agricultural items and equipment on display.

The Chair of SEM, Mr Mahmood Hussain, described the visit as intergenerational as included participants many of who were born in the rural countryside back in Pakistan and who have lived in Sheffield for over 50 years, yet this was their first visit to the Great Yorkshire Show.

Mr Hussain who was born and grew up in Pakistan described the trip as bringing together the older and younger members of the community, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the many attractions the Show offered. He noted growing up in rural Pakistani many of the men had farms, reared livestock before relocating to England. The young people on the other hand, did not have this kind of rural upbringing. The visit therefore afforded the opportunity for the older generation to reconnect with their rural roots and to re-live childhood memories but also share their lived experience of farming and livestock rearing with the younger participants.

They watched impressive cattle and horse displays and explored the wide variety of sheep, cows, goats and other farm animals on display. For many of the older participants, the visit brought back fond memories of their farming backgrounds. They shared their experiences and stories with the younger generation, creating meaningful conversations and strengthening the bond between the generations.

They also explored the many stalls showcasing leather and sheepskin products, items that many people use in everyday life. One of the highlights of the day was watching a traditional sheep shearing competition. It was fascinating to see the skill and speed involved, with competitors aiming to remove the entire fleece in a single piece without causing harm to the sheep.

The visit was both educational and enjoyable, giving everyone greater appreciation of farming, rural life and the importance of preserving these traditions while bringing generations together.

JMG express its thanks to Dr Maxwell Ayamba BEM from SEM and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) for their valued partnership and generous support in making this visit possible. Their continued commitment to bringing communities together through educational and environmental initiatives is appreciated.

Dr Maxwell Ayamba BEM, CEO of SEM who accompanied the group noted that strong partnership working with YAS has been fundamental in helping SEM take people from minoritised communities to attend the yearly Great Yorkshire Show which is one of the greatest attractions in the country. He noted that creating these opportunities raises awareness about the importance of farming such as food growing and animal husbandry which is fundamental to the UK economy. People from minoritised communities consume lots of diary products and it is important for them to understand the importance of sustainable farming and the challenges faced by farmers in these times of increasing climate change and nature decline. Dr Ayamba noted farming is still not a profession among minoritised communities in the UK although having spoken to many people the data show that they are interested in farming.

Below is a video clip of about the feedback from some of the men

Marking a Decade in Nature Inclusion – SEM 10 Year Anniversary Celebration.

On July 6th, 2026, the Sheffield Environmental Movement (SEM) welcomed 70 people from the diverse Global Majority communities in Sheffield that it works with to celebrate its 10 Year Anniversary which had as its theme, “Marking A Decade In Nature Inclusion”. SEM is one of the few minoritised environmental charities in the UK working to reimagine our shared heritage of the natural environment.

SEM was founded in 2016 on the basic principle that access to nature is fundamental to human health and wellbeing, however a section of our society are not benefitting from a term coined by our CEO Dr Maxwell Ayamba BEM, “Our Natural Health Service” which is now being used widely nationally. As Dr Ayamba further indicated, SEM further aimed to challenge the misconception of how we think about nature and environmental conservation in the UK and how people from the Global Majority can be part of the environmental movement with the view to help make difference in nature recovery and climate resilience.

So far thousands of people from minoritised communities have benefited from this intervention, visiting natural spaces that they didn’t know existed or how to access. For the past 10 years SEM has served over 10,000 people from minoritised communities to benefit from environmental/heritage activities, attended over 500 environmental events, conferences, meetings but also contributed in helping to communicate and shaping government policy in relation to promoting access to the environment for minority communities. For example, SEM played a big role in discussions around Green Social Prescribing which is of relevance to the health and wellbeing of minorities.

As Kate Ashbrook, the Patron of SEM said in her speech, “We need SEM in every city in the UK”. She noted that the time for talking about inclusion and diversity in nature was over, it is now about action, a movement that can bring about such transformation to enable those marginalised to have access to green spaces and national parks.

The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Andrew Sangar who opened the anniversary celebration indicated that to see so many people at the anniversary is a testimony that SEM is doing wonderful things to transform lives of people in the communities of Sheffield. He praised SEM for all its hard work over the 10 years saying Sheffield as the greenest city should be leading the way in promoting its high environmental standards and urges SEM to continue its good work.

A video by SEM’s other Patron Dame Joanna Lumley which was shown to the community participants at the anniversary can be viewed in this report below.

The Chair of SEM, Mahmood Hussainsaid that it was a great honour and privilege, as Chairman of the Sheffield Environmental Movement, to welcome you all as we celebrate an incredible milestone – our 10th Anniversary. He noted that the anniversary was not just about looking back over the last ten years.

It is about celebrating the people, partnerships and shared vision that have brought us here and looking ahead with hope and determination. “Ten years ago, SEM was founded on a simple but powerful belief: that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, should have the opportunity to connect with, enjoy and help protect our natural environment. That vision continues to inspire everything we do”.

Mr Hussain said, over the past decade, SEM has worked to break down barriers and create opportunities for African, Asian and Minoritised communities to engage with nature, heritage and the environment. Adding, along the way, we have reached out to thousands of people through our educational programmes, environmental workshops, and educational day activities. Weekend residentials and outdoor learning experiences. For many participants, these were more than just activities. They were life-changing experiences. Some visited the Peak District National Park, nature reserves, heritage sites or farms for the very first time. Others discovered new confidence, improved their health and wellbeing, developed leadership skills, or found new pathways into the countryside.

The Chair went on to explain that these achievements remind us that protecting our environment is not only about conserving landscapes – it is about empowering people, strengthening communities and ensuring that everyone has a place in shaping a sustainable future. He said, “what makes SEM unique is our commitment to listening to communities, valuing lived experience and building genuine partnerships. We know that lasting environmental change can only happen when inclusion, equality and social justice are at the heart of our work”.

Mr Hussain said, SEM’s success has only been possible because of the incredible collaboration we have enjoyed over the past ten years. We are proud to have worked alongside a wide range of community organisations, the Sheffield College, universities, environmental and heritage organisations and many dedicated partners who have shared our ambition to make nature accessible to everyone.

I would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to all our funders and in particular to Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Your belief in our vision has enabled SEM to grow from an ambitious idea into an organisation that is making a real and lasting difference. Your investment has not simply funded SEM, it has created opportunities, improved wellbeing, inspired future environmental leaders and helped build stronger, more connected communities.

Thank you for your trust, your generosity and your continued commitment to our mission. We are truly grateful for your support. As we celebrate this milestone, we also recognise that our journey is far from over. The challenges facing our environment and our communities remain significant. Climate change, biodiversity loss and inequalities continue to affect us all. However, the last ten years have shown us that when people come together with a shared purpose, positive change is possible. Our ambition for the next decade is to continue creating opportunities for communities that have been underrepresented, to inspire more young people to become environmental leaders and to ensure that everyone feels welcomed, valued and empowered to play their part in protecting our natural world. This afternoon is not just a celebration of what we have achieved together, but it is also a reminder that the best is yet to come.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, thank you to every person and organisation that has been part of this remarkable journey. Your encouragement, partnership and belief in SEM have made these last ten years possible. Let us continue to work together to build a future where nature belongs to everyone, where every community has a voice, and where the next generation inherits not only a healthier environment but a fairer and more inclusive society. Congratulations to Sheffield Environmental Movement on ten remarkable years.

Joanna Lumbley Patron SEM 2026

From 22 June to 29 June 2026, Roshni will be participating in the Big Give Campaign to raise funds for our Counselling Service, which provides vital emotional and mental health support to women who have experienced significant trauma, including domestic abuse, sexual abuse, forced marriage, honour-based violence, and other forms of gender-based violence.

Over the past year, our Bilingual Counselling Service has supported 55 women, with 21 women currently engaged in counselling sessions. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, we have had to close our waiting list over the last three months despite increasing demand for support.

Through this campaign, we hope to raise sufficient funds to reopen the waiting list and continue providing life-changing counselling support to vulnerable women over the next six months.

During the campaign, every donation made through the Big Give platform will be matched, meaning that each contribution will have twice the impact in helping women access the support they need.